Convertible rack for wagons.



110,728,316.' y PATBN-TED MAY 19, 1903',

LAW. SNOW. -GONVERTIBLE RACK POR WAGONS.

v APPLICATION FILED FEB`- 26, 1903.

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PATBNTED MAY 19, '1903.-

IQW. SNOW.

CONVERTIBLE RACK FOR WAGONS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 26, 1903.

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No. 728,316.r PATBNTED MAY 19,1903: r

\ vI. W. SNOW.

CONVERTIBLBRAGK POR WAGoNs.

APPLICATION-FILED FEB. 26, 1903.

No MODEL.

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-IsAAc w. sNow, oF MARQUETTE, MICHIGAN.

CONVERTIBLERAcK FoR wAco Ns.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters raient 1vo.72s,31c, dated May 19, 190s.

To all whom t may'ooncerzu` Be it known that I,"ISAAC W. SNOW, a citizen of the United States, residing at Marquette, in the county of Marquette andState of Michigan, have invented certain new-and useful Improvements in Convertible Racks: for Wagon-Bodies, of which the following is a` specification.

This invention relates to improvements in; a convertible and separable rack for wagons;V

expensive in construction, strong and du-k rable, and so made that its parts shall be sepa-- rable, that they may be easily assembled and' handled by one person when it isdesired to-l change its form or to place it in its positionl on or remove it from the wagon-body.

Another object is to furnish a rack of the above-described character the parts ofwhich canbereadily arranged so -as to provide a or can be ,easily converted into a rack having several different compartments,in which poul-' try, hogs, and sheep, or different farm prod-.- nctse-such as potatoes, turnips, corn,- &c. can.A be separately taken tomarket or transported; l

" ,The numeral20 represents the wagon-body,

therein.

A further object is to aord means for pro-g tecting the load from rain or snow and to,l prevent the escape of the animals or poultry.-

A still further object is to so construct the rack that it can be quickly changed from an open or ventilated one to a tightly-closed one,"

so that smallgrain can be conveyed therein, either in bulk lor separate compartments.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be disclosed in the sulojoinedl de- Application ned February 26, lgoaly seal in. 145,119. (No model.)

"mounted on the body of the wagon, the parts of the rack being arranged to form compartments Fig. 2 is a rear end view in elevation oftherack and wagon-body. Fig. 3 is a top A-plan view of the rack with theI partitions and Lend-gates omitted and showing. the headpiece turned down. Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 4 4 of Fig. l looking in vthe direction indicated by the arrows. Fig. 5 is across-sectional view -taken ony linev 5 6 of Fig. llooking in the direction indicated Vby the arrows, but showing theparts of the rack arranged to form a hay-rack. Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 5 6 of Fig. l, but showing the sides of the rack in positions to which they may be arranged when head-piece turned down. Fig. -7 is a perspective view of agportion of one of the end- Vgates or, partitions.` Fig. 8 is an end view of Vthe removable .top l used with the compartment-rack and showing a portion of the 'covering for said top. Fig. 9 is a fragmental plan view of the top, showing it shortened for the convenience of illustration. Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the lower portion of oneof the supporting-standards of the rack, andFig. 11 represents perspective views of the protecting plates or pieces for the sockets lor openings in the wagon-body.

Like numerals of vreference refer to correv-sponding-parts throughout the dierent views of-.the drawings.

. whichA may be o f the ordinaryior any preferred construction andfislnounted on wheels 2lin ithe usual manner.

2O is strengthenedby meansLof-a series of cross-pieces 22, which' are secured thereto at suitable distances apart. Extending through the bottom of the body and each of the pieces 22 in pairs are openings 23 to receive the lower ends of the,supporting-standards of the sides of the rack, as willbe presently explained. As is clearly shown in-Fig's. 4 to 6, inclusive, of the drawings, each of ythese opentected by means of pieces 2,5 and 26, suitably secured in place. Pivotally secured' on a rod the rack is empty and alsozillustrating the upper surface of the bottomof the body.l

Patented May 19, 1903. Y *A The'bottom of the body'v ings is inclined laterally and` protected by 27, which extends across the front portion of the body, is a head-piece 28, which is intended to be used when the rack is employed as a hay-rack and may be then raised to an upright position, as shown in Fig. 5, or may be folded to the position shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 6 when not in use.

Each of the sides of the rack comprises a number of curved supporting-standards 29, which have their lower ends reduced to form shoulders 30 on each side thereof to rest on the socket-plates 24 or upper surface of the bottom of the body if such plates are dispensed with. The reduced portion of each of the standards 29 is preferably provided with a metallic shield 3l to protect it from wear, which shield may be secured in place by means of bolts or rivets passing through openings 32 in the shield. The standards 29 of each of the sides of the rack are connected together by means of slats 33, which are located at suitable distances apart and extend longitudinally with the wagon-body.

Located parallel with and ataslight distance from each of the standards 29 between the end standards is a cleat 34, which is secured to the innersurfaces of the slats 33-that is, their inner surfaces when the parts are arranged to form a compartment-rack. Each of these cleats extends from the upper slat to the lower one and in conjunction with the standards 29 form recesses 35 for the reception and retention of the partitions employed for dividing the rack into numerous compartments. Extending diagonally from the lower portion of each of the cleats 34 to the upper end of the outer or end standards is a brace 36, which may be bolted or otherwise secured to the slats for the purpose of strengthening the rack.

The partitions used in dividing the rack into compartments and end-gates for said compartment-rack are constructed substantially alike and consist of transverse pieces or boards 37, bolted to upwardlyextending pieces 3S, which are usually arranged in V shape, as shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings. The outer ends of the boards 37 are curved to correspond with the curve or bend of the standards 29 when arranged as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings. Each of the end standards 29 is provided with one or more projections 39, having a slot 40 to receive a pin 41, which may be attached to the boards of the end-gates by means of a chain 42 or otherwise. The slotted pins or projections 39 are passed through suitable openings 43 in the boards of the end-gates, after which the pins or keys 4l are placed in said slots in order to secure 'the end-gates in position.

In order that the sides of the rack may be closed or made tight, I provide each of the standards 29 on its outer surface when the rack is used with the parts in the positions as shown in Figs. 1, 3, and 4of the drawings with a series of openings 44 to receive pins or screws used for detachably securing,r slats,

between the fixed slats and the sides of the body. To accomplish the same purpose with the end-gates and partitions, the pieces 33 are likewise provided with openings 44 to receive pins or bolts for securing boards or pieces thereto.

In Figs. 8 and 9 of the drawings I have shown a top to be used on the rack when arranged as a compartment-rack or as shown in Figs. I, 2, and 4 of the drawings, which consists of a number of ltransverse pieces 45, which are preferably arched, as shown in Fig. 8, and have near each of their ends in their lower surfaces recesses 46 to receive the upper slats 33 or upper portion of the sides of the rack. The transverse pieces 45 are connected together by means of slats 33, which extend longitudinally with the wagonbody. In order to make the top a close one, the pieces 45 may be provided with openings 44 to receive pins or screws in slats to be placed between the iixed slats on said pieces. To protect the load from exposure to the elements, I may provide the top with a cover 47, of cloth or othersuitable material, which may be secured at its lower edges to the lower portion of the rack or wagon-body in any suitable manner.

From the foregoing and by reference to the drawings it will be seen and clearly understood that by placing the sides of the rack so that the curve of their standards will be outwardly and locating the lower ends of said standards in the openings of the body they will rest on the sides of the body when the partitions and end-gates, consisting of the boards 37 and pieces 38, may be inserted in the recesses 35, formed by the cleats 34 and standards, and secured in place, respectively, by means of projections 39 and pins 41, as before stated, thus forming a rack with a number of compartments. It is obvious, however, that the end-gates only may be secured in position and the partitions omitted. To form the hay-rack, it is only necessary to reverse the sides, so that the curve of their standards will be inwardly, as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings. When the rack is empty and it is desired to make it more compact, the sides may be arranged to occupy the position shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. In a convertible rack for wagons, the combination with the body having a series of upwardly-daring openings in its bottom, of the interchangeable sides, each comprising a series of curved supporting-standards having their lower ends shaped to fit in the said openings and adapted to rest on the sides of the body, and a series of slats secured to the standards, substantially as described.

2. In a convertible rack for wagons, the combination with the body having a series of upwardly-flaring openings in its bottom, of the interchangeable sides, each comprising a IOO IZO

' adapted to rest on the sides of the body and having their lower ends formed to fit in said Combination with the body having a series of number of supporting-standards formed at their lower ends toA t in said openings and adapted to rest on the sides of the body, and a series of slats secured to the standards, the said standards being'curved laterally, whereby a rack of large area may be formed by placing the sides so that the bends of their standards will be inwardly, and one of smaller' capacity produced by placing the sides so that the bends of their standards will be outwardly, substantially as described.

3. In a convertible rack for wagons, the combination with the body having a series ofY upwardly-flaring openings in its bottom, of ahead-piece pivotally secured near one of its ends, the sides of the rack, each comprising a number of curved supporting-standards openings and a number of slats secured to the standards, substantially as described.

et. In a convertible rack for wagons, the

openings in its bottom, ofthe interchange-V able sides, each comprising a series of laterally-curved supporting-standards to it at their lower ends in the said openings and a number of slats secured to the standards, cleats secured to the slats parallel with and at a slight distance fromsome of the stand.

ally-curved supporting-standards to t atl their lower ends in the said openings and a number of slats secured on the standards,l

cleats secured to the slats parallel with and at a slight distance from some of the standards, to form recesses, partitions to fit in said recesses, end-.gates locatedat the ends of the body and the sides, means to secure them to the latter, a cover comprising a -number of transverse pieces', each having near its ends a recess to receive the upper portion of the sides of the rack, and slats connecting the transverse pieces together, substantially as described.

ISAAC W. SNOW. Witnesses:

T. B. CATLIN, A. WEST. 

